User Panel
Posted: 2/15/2015 2:38:24 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Liquidmetal]
Gonna buy my first tripod. Initially, it will have to support only my spotting scope and my camera. Down the road, I will pick up a Hog Saddle and put a rifle (no more than 12.5 lbs. worth) on it as well.
Thinking this might be adequate: http://www.manfrotto.us/190-carbon-fiber-tripod-with-q90-3-section Thinking this might be better: http://www.manfrotto.us/product/24329.1108711.58969.1101347.0/MT055XPRO3/_/055_aluminium_3-section_tripod%2C_with_horizontal_column Currently eyeing this head: http://www.manfrotto.us/midi-ball-head-with-rc2 May upgrade on the head, still pondering it. If it were just my spotting scope and camera, I would grab the 190 and never look back. The weight of the rifle makes me lean towards the 055. Is the 190 up to it, or just roll with the 055? Neither (something better than either)? Trying to keep the tripod and head combo under $400, but not if it means sacrificing function. This is for range and field/hunting use, it will not see heavy abuse. Thanks. |
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement. |
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It's hard to go wrong with Manfrotto. I have both the 190 and 055 in both aluminum and carbon, as well as some others for a variety of applications. I also run hog saddles and pig saddles on most which are intended to support a rifle.
For 95+% of applications the 190 will be fine. I have certain applications that require me to be able to shoot from an elevated position. I keep the 055 for this since it is more stable when used towards the maximum of its height adjustment. The midi ball head is also fine for your 12.5 lb rifle. I have their bigger one on the 055 but it is probably a bit of overkill. Carbon vs. aluminum is strictly a function of your wallet thickness and how critical weight is to your application. |
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Originally Posted By Kopfjager8541:
Both the 190 and 055 are quality shooting tripods. I currently use the 055 with my own rest setup that my buddy and I developed. Not fond of ball mounts, expensive and not as ergonomical. The pic below shows a smaller tripod I was testing. http://<a href=http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah112/garret3/Reaper%20Grip/5891E5FC-F1FF-4766-ADE4-CECF15A8E286_zpsro7gdlkk.jpg</a>" /> View Quote I like that saddle looks like the hog or pig. |
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"When the Government Fears the People, There is Liberty; When the People Fear the Government, There is Tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By nicholasgentges:
I like that saddle looks like the hog or pig. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By nicholasgentges:
Originally Posted By Kopfjager8541:
Both the 190 and 055 are quality shooting tripods. I currently use the 055 with my own rest setup that my buddy and I developed. Not fond of ball mounts, expensive and not as ergonomical. The pic below shows a smaller tripod I was testing. http://<a href=http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah112/garret3/Reaper%20Grip/5891E5FC-F1FF-4766-ADE4-CECF15A8E286_zpsro7gdlkk.jpg</a>" /> I like that saddle looks like the hog or pig. Thanks.... It's actually our new Reaper Grip and operates differently than the pig or hog. Designed to squeeze unique rifle stock contours such as ar15/10 more efficiently with the use of a rotating jaw. |
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I love my 055 alum and 054 ball head. Holds all my rifles really well
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Originally Posted By MrJonesandMe:
I love my 055 alum and 054 ball head. Holds all my rifles really well View Quote I have the 055 XPROB with a 496 RC2 ball head and it holds my heavy guns well. I just got the PIG saddle in the other day and I think it is well worth the money. I have been using a PRS with a SSP2 saddle with is nice but no were near as sturdy as the Manfrotto. The upside to the PRS and SLIK tripod is ridiculously light weight which is nice for hunting. " /> " /> " /> " /> |
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"When the Government Fears the People, There is Liberty; When the People Fear the Government, There is Tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By Liquidmetal:
Gonna buy my first tripod. Initially, it will have to support only my spotting scope and my camera. Down the road, I will pick up a Hog Saddle and put a rifle (no more than 12.5 lbs. worth) on it as well. Thinking this might be adequate: http://www.manfrotto.us/190-carbon-fiber-tripod-with-q90-3-section Thinking this might be better: http://www.manfrotto.us/product/24329.1108711.58969.1101347.0/MT055XPRO3/_/055_aluminium_3-section_tripod%2C_with_horizontal_column Currently eyeing this head: http://www.manfrotto.us/midi-ball-head-with-rc2 May upgrade on the head, still pondering it. If it were just my spotting scope and camera, I would grab the 190 and never look back. The weight of the rifle makes me lean towards the 055. Is the 190 up to it, or just roll with the 055? Neither (something better than either)? Trying to keep the tripod and head combo under $400, but not if it means sacrificing function. This is for range and field/hunting use, it will not see heavy abuse. Thanks. View Quote You'll need a bigger one if you're going to mount all 3 of those on it! And the recoil, damn, that could really damage a camera! |
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"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." – Mark Twain
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I just found a Manfrotto 3021Pro (discontinued) on Ebay for $65 after hearing good things. Seems pretty solid..
Just have a spotting scope on it now, but plan on using it for shooting when I can get a Hog saddle down the road. |
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Manfrottos are great but are really overkill for most peopel. The slick tripods that prs sells are a great value. Check them out
http://www.precisionriflesolutions.com/apps/webstore/ |
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dropping close to 7 grand on a 1MOA gun is akin to throwing brembo brakes and a super charger on a honda mini van
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Originally Posted By m4hk33:
Manfrottos are great but are really overkill for most peopel. The slick tripods that prs sells are a great value. Check them out http://www.precisionriflesolutions.com/apps/webstore/ View Quote Been using one for years and love it. Also super handy being able to swap from spotting scope to gun mount. |
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"That guy that knows everything about nothing."
"Never been there never done that or know anyone that has but allow me to tell you about being there doing that" |
We had Bushnell tripods in the Marines. I forget the model. I think the kit is about $6-700 new though.
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Uncle
Sam's Misguided Children I was cloning before cloning was cool: Mk12, Mk13, Mk18, M4 Block II |
Originally Posted By m4hk33:
Manfrottos are great but are really overkill for most peopel. The slick tripods that prs sells are a great value. Check them out http://www.precisionriflesolutions.com/apps/webstore/ View Quote The Slik are nice but when using a 15-18 pound rife they do have a lot of flex in the legs. I have both the frotto and Slik they both have merits the Slik is very light where the frotto is rock solid but heavy. The frotto absorbs much of the recoil from heavy caliber rifles. |
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"When the Government Fears the People, There is Liberty; When the People Fear the Government, There is Tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson
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What about using the pistol grip or quick release heads instead of the ball?
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Originally Posted By Shooter_Mc_Gavin:
What about using the pistol grip or quick release heads instead of the ball? View Quote I would recommend the pistol grip head that's what I was looking for but I found the ball headed one in my pictures above for a good deal. The ball works well but the pistol grip makes it a lot easier for quick transitions where the ball head knob takes a little more time to adjust. |
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"When the Government Fears the People, There is Liberty; When the People Fear the Government, There is Tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson
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what QD plates are you guys using with the manfrotto head and the HOG ? Q2, Q5, Q6 ?
also good info here: http://www.hogsaddle.com/HogSaddle_FAQ.html |
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I'm using the manfrotto quick release plates, they work great for me and I think they are like $15 a piece on amazon.
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Mine is constantly loose with the qd plates
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XC3GZW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Dolica GX650B204 Proline GX Series 65 inch Aluminum Tripod and Ball Head Combo for DSLR, SLR Just ordered this. Ball head and tripod combo. Gets good reviews and I can't afford some high dollar unit. Has not yet arrived but I'm hopeful it will suit my recreational and hunting needs. Gonna spray it and add some camp hunting wrap tape to it. Should do what I need it to. |
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